Sight Translation
Oral rendering of a written document.
Sight translation is a mode of interpretation in which the interpreter reads a written document in the source language and renders it orally into the target language in real time. It combines elements of translation (the document is written) and interpretation (the rendering is spoken).
Sight translation is commonly used in:
- Healthcare encounters — when an informed-consent form, discharge instructions, or insurance document needs to be reviewed with a patient in real time.
- Legal proceedings — when a document needs to be reviewed with a client during an interview, deposition, or court proceeding.
- IEP meetings — when a draft IEP document needs to be reviewed with a parent in real time.
Sight translation requires both interpretation training (oral rendering, real-time pacing) and translation training (handling formal written language, legal/medical terminology). It is part of the standard skill set for qualified medical, legal, and educational interpreters.